Genesis (band): Difference between revisions
→IV: "How Dare I Be So Beautiful?" (9:43 – 11:04)
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In an interview, [[wikipedia:Peter Gabriel|Peter Gabriel]] summed up "Supper's Ready" as "a personal journey which ends up walking through scenes from [[wikipedia:Book of Revelation|Revelation]] in the Bible... I'll leave it at that".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2013/12/22/peter-gabriels-isolated-vocal-from-genesis-suppers-ready/ |title=Peter Gabriel's Isolated Vocal from Genesis' "Supper's Ready" |last=Alper |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Alper |date=December 22, 2013 |website=That Eric Alper |access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-100-best-classic-progressive-rock-songs-part-5-20-1-2495396221.html?rebelltpage=2 |title=The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 5, 20-1 |last=Murphy |first=Sean |date=March 31, 2017 |website=[[wikipedia:PopMatters|PopMatters]] |access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> He was also quoted in the book ''I Know What I Like'' by [[wikipedia:Armando Gallo|Armando Gallo]] as saying that the song was influenced by an experience his wife had of sleeping in a purple room, and the nightmares it gave her.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVQbF9lTBwgC&pg=PA290 |title=The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition |date=2007 |publisher=Canongate Books |isbn=9781847676436 |page=290}}</ref><ref>Peter Gabriel in radio interview on the programme "Rockline", 92.3FM KROCK, NYC, 16 June 1986.</ref> [[wikipedia:AllMusic|AllMusic]] has described the song as the band's "undisputed masterpiece".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/song/suppers-ready-mt0006960684 |title= Song Review by François Couture |publisher=AllMusic |first=Francois |last=Couture |access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> | In an interview, [[wikipedia:Peter Gabriel|Peter Gabriel]] summed up "Supper's Ready" as "a personal journey which ends up walking through scenes from [[wikipedia:Book of Revelation|Revelation]] in the Bible... I'll leave it at that".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2013/12/22/peter-gabriels-isolated-vocal-from-genesis-suppers-ready/ |title=Peter Gabriel's Isolated Vocal from Genesis' "Supper's Ready" |last=Alper |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Alper |date=December 22, 2013 |website=That Eric Alper |access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-100-best-classic-progressive-rock-songs-part-5-20-1-2495396221.html?rebelltpage=2 |title=The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 5, 20-1 |last=Murphy |first=Sean |date=March 31, 2017 |website=[[wikipedia:PopMatters|PopMatters]] |access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> He was also quoted in the book ''I Know What I Like'' by [[wikipedia:Armando Gallo|Armando Gallo]] as saying that the song was influenced by an experience his wife had of sleeping in a purple room, and the nightmares it gave her.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVQbF9lTBwgC&pg=PA290 |title=The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition |date=2007 |publisher=Canongate Books |isbn=9781847676436 |page=290}}</ref><ref>Peter Gabriel in radio interview on the programme "Rockline", 92.3FM KROCK, NYC, 16 June 1986.</ref> [[wikipedia:AllMusic|AllMusic]] has described the song as the band's "undisputed masterpiece".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/song/suppers-ready-mt0006960684 |title= Song Review by François Couture |publisher=AllMusic |first=Francois |last=Couture |access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> | ||
"Suppers Ready" is a voyage through the history of mankind, comparing the relationship between a man and woman, two halves of the same soul, to that of the first man and woman, [[wikipedia:Adam and Eve|Adam and Eve]], together with their troubles from the Beginning of time. It runs through history showing the different lives these people have lived apart from each other, from great and bloody battles (wandering in the chaos) through to the modern day (reference to Churchill). Through all of those lives they have learnt difficult lessons and have come to realize that the path of God within them was the only path. Once that was known both could reunite (can't you feel our souls ignite). The life cycle was complete and they could achieve their personal revelation as described in the Bible and enter the New Jerusalem. | |||
"Suppers Ready" refers to the [[wikipedia:Last Supper|Last Supper]] at which a goblet was used and which held the blood of Christ. A goblet was later brought to the UK by [[wikipedia:Joseph of Arimathea|Joseph of Arimathea]] and revered throughout history as the [[wikipedia:Joseph_of_Arimathea#Holy_Grail|Holy Grail]]. At Christ's [[wikipedia:Second Coming|second coming]], which will be heralded by [[wikipedia:Gabriel|Gabriel]], God's messenger angel, the grail will be used to cleanse the waters of the world. | |||
==== Sections ==== | ==== Sections ==== | ||
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The programme describes this section as follows: "In which our intrepid heroes investigate the aftermath of the battle and discover a solitary figure, obsessed by his own image. They witness an unusual transmutation, and are pulled into their own reflections in the water." | The programme describes this section as follows: "In which our intrepid heroes investigate the aftermath of the battle and discover a solitary figure, obsessed by his own image. They witness an unusual transmutation, and are pulled into their own reflections in the water." | ||
===== V: "Willow Farm" (11:05 – 15:36) ===== | |||
Live in concert, Gabriel would appear in his "flower mask" (by Gabriel's own admission, partly inspired by the BBC children's programme ''The [[wikipedia:Flower Pot Men|Flower Pot Men]]''). This section features [[wikipedia:vaudeville|vaudeville]]-style sections, the [[wikipedia:Mellotron|Mellotron]] Mark II's "combined brass" tape set, sped-up vocals, and [[wikipedia:musique concrète|musique concrète]] noises of trains and explosions. Lyrically, it has a [[wikipedia:Monty Python|Python-esque]] quality, dealing with elements of the absurd in the English psyche, "there's [[wikipedia:Winston Churchill|Winston Churchill]], dressed in [[wikipedia:Drag (clothing)|drag]], he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag!" and numerous elements of word play, boarding schools, agricultural depravity and social conformity. The lyrics also reference ''Foxtrot's'' cover artwork ("the fox on the rocks") and a song from ''[[wikipedia:Nursery Cryme|Nursery Cryme]]'', Genesis' previous album ("[[wikipedia:The Musical Box (song)|The Musical Box]]"). | |||
The programme describes "Willow Farm" as follows: "Climbing out of the pool, they are once again in a different existence. They're right in the middle of a myriad of bright colours, filled with all manner of objects, plants, animals and humans. Life flows freely and everything is mindlessly busy. At random, a whistle blows and every single thing is instantly changed into another."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tAA73ebsa0sC&pg=PA82|title=Expression in Pop-rock Music: A Collection of Critical and Analytical Essays|last=Everett|first=Walter|date=2000|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9780815331605|page=82}}</ref> | |||
===== VI: "Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-Starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet)" (15:36 – 20:50) ===== | |||
At this point, the drums enter, with the rhythm section striking out a pattern using the unusual [[wikipedia:time signature|metre]] of 9 beats to the bar (expressed as 3+2+4).<ref>Seconds Out Songbook 1978 Wise Publications</ref> The lyrics employ stereotypical apocalyptic imagery, alternating with an organ solo from Banks (played in {{music|time|4|4}} and {{music|time|7|8}} time signatures against the {{music|time|9|8}} rhythm section), then switching to a climactic vocal from Gabriel, and the Mellotron "three violins" tape set. Banks has said that his approach to writing the solo was to parody the style that [[wikipedia:Keith Emerson|Keith Emerson]] had developed with [[wikipedia:Emerson, Lake & Palmer|Emerson, Lake & Palmer]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} In live performances, during the organ solo, Gabriel would don a bizarre "[[wikipedia:Gog and Magog|Magog]]" outfit with geometrical headdress which can be seen on the cover of the band's ''[[wikipedia:Genesis Live|Genesis Live]]'' (1973) album. "Gabble Ratchet" is a reference to the [[wikipedia:Hellhounds|Hounds of Hell]];<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/81/6914.html Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 1898]</ref> they are usually portrayed as geese, which explains the sound effect heard during this section (18:48–18:53 on ''Foxtrot''). They are also known as "Gabriel's Hounds". The programme for the 1972/3 tour refers to this section as "co-starring the delicious talents of wild geese".<ref>[http://www.genesismuseum.com/programs1.htm Genesis Programmes – Gabriel Years<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> | |||
The programme describes this section as follows: "At one whistle the lovers become seeds in the soil, where they recognise other seeds to be people from the world in which they had originated. While they wait for Spring, they are returned to their old world to see [[wikipedia:Book of Revelation|Apocalypse of St John]] in full progress. The seven trumpeters cause a sensation, the fox keeps throwing sixes, and Pythagoras (a Greek extra) is deliriously happy as he manages to put exactly the right amount of milk and honey on his corn flakes."<ref name="genesismuseum.com"/> | |||
===== VII: "As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)" (20:51 – 22:54) ===== | |||
"As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs" is a folklore variation of the logical [[wikipedia:tautology (logic)|tautology]] that "X = X"<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/81/5663.html Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable]</ref> and in this context is a reference to certainty and faith—being absolutely convinced of the ultimate victory of good over evil and that God and Heaven do indeed exist. "Aching Men's Feet" is a play on "making ends meet".{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} "Apocalypse" [[wikipedia:segue|segue]]s into this part via a slower section that reprises the lyrics from "Lover's Leap" in combination with the chord progression from "The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man", backed by a pressed [[wikipedia:snare drum|snare drum]] roll and [[wikipedia:tubular bell|tubular bell]]s. During live shows, a flash charge would be fired and Gabriel would discard his Magog costume to reveal himself in shining white apparel that glowed when exposed to [[wikipedia:black light|black light]]. During one gig, he attempted flying on a [[wikipedia:Kirby wire|Kirby wire]], and was nearly strangled.<ref>{{citation|last=Bonanni|first=Andrea|title=Genesis Gabriel Fly|date=August 21, 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8jBId7gm00|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> From this point to the end, drums, deep bass pedals and Mellotron brass are present, as are [[wikipedia:William Blake|Blakean]] lyrics which reference [[wikipedia:The New Jerusalem|The New Jerusalem]] (The Crystal City of God that is established after the death of the Anti-Christ) and the [[wikipedia:Second Coming of Christ|Second Coming of Christ]] with reference to the biblical [[wikipedia:Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 19:17: "There's an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God." | |||
After completing the lyrics in this section, Gabriel would pick up and raise an active blacklight tube, holding it near himself, upraised with both hands, as though it were a sword. Gabriel would be the only one lit onstage at this point and would actually appear to be glowing from the combination of blacklight, his reflective white costume and fluorescent makeup. Gabriel considered this effect to be a theatrical way of symbolizing the victory of good/light over evil/darkness. | |||
The programme describes this section as follows: "Above all else an egg is an egg. '[[wikipedia:And did those feet in ancient time|And did those feet ............]]' making ends meet. [[wikipedia:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] = place of peace."<ref name="genesismuseum.com"/> | |||
=== The Lamb lies down on Broadway === | === The Lamb lies down on Broadway === | ||